3-step cam-profile-switching roller finger follower

Abstract

A three-step cam-profile-switching roller finger follower includes a body with low-lift, high-lift and medium-lift body sections. Low, high and medium cam followers are carried by the low-lift, high-lift and medium-lift body sections, respectively. At least one locking assembly selectively couples together and decouples the low and high-lift body sections, and selectively couples together and decouples the low and medium-lift body sections.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. An internal combustion engine, comprising: 
       a camshaft having at least one set of cam lobes, said at least one set of cam lobes including a low-lift cam lobe, a medium-lift cam lobe and a high-lift cam lobe; and  
       a three-step cam-profile-switching roller finger follower, including a body having a low-lift body section, a high-lift body section and a medium-lift body section, a low, high and medium cam follower carried by said low-lift, high-lift and medium-lift body sections, respectively, said low, high and medium cam followers engaging said low-lift, high-lift and medium-lift cam lobes, respectively, at least one locking assembly selectively coupling together and decoupling said low and said high-lift body sections, and selectively coupling together and decoupling said low and said medium-lift body sections, wherein at least one of said low-lift cam lobe and said medium-lift cam lobe is offset relative to said high-lift cam lobe.  
     
     
       2. The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said low-lift cam lobe is offset relative to said high-lift cam lobe from approximately 20 to approximately 40 crank angle degrees.